Commander-in-Chief makes first remarks about military plane crash

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing pledges to support the victims’ relatives as he expresses condolence.

Three days after a Myanmar military transport plane crashed with 122 people on board, off the coast of Taninthayi Region in Myeik, Myanmar’s highest-ranking military officer addressed the tragedy at a cash donation ceremony for relatives of the victims at the Nay Pyi Taw Command and promised continuing support for the victims’ survivors.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said the Myanmar navy has retrieved 33 bodies and debris from the nation’s territorial waters, but recent storms prevented them from locating more casualties or the plane fuselage.
Several nations, including China, have made offers to assist Myanmar’s recovery effort, but none has been accepted to date.
The senior general spoke at a ceremony where Ks990 million in donations from concerned Myanmar military families citizens were received to be given to victims’ relatives.
The military chief criticised reports about the crash on the internet, which he said hurt the feelings of victims’ survivors.
“A large cloud formed in the area where the accident occurred”, he said. “This should be taken into consideration”.
The Chinese-made Y-8-200F transport plane lost contact with ground control 29 minutes after takeoff when it had reached a height of 18,000 feet (5,485 metres), about 43 miles (70 km) west of Dawei, the military said.
An aircraft wheel, two life jackets and some bags with clothes – believed to be from the missing plane – were found on Thursday.